Traders stop stone import from India for price hike

Several thousand loading and unloading labourers at Burimari Land Port in Patgram upazila are passing idle time as importers have stopped importing Indian stones since September 3, showing sudden rise in stone prices in India as the cause.

Only 30 percent stones are still being imported from Bhutan, while 70 percent used to be imported from India.

Bangladesh Land Port Authority Deputy Director in Burimari Land Port Mamimul Islam said price of stones was increased in India on September 3, and since then no importer from Bangladesh imported Indian stones through the land port.

On average, 300 Indian stone-carrying trucks entered Bangladesh through the land port every day before September 3, but no trucks carrying Indian stones entered since then, he said. “It is an Indian decision to increase stone prices,” he said.

Stone importer Alimuzzaman Sarder said one tonne of Indian stone cost US dollar 11 before September 3, but the price was suddenly increased to $ 14. “Tax on imported stones has been increased in Bangladesh, so importers are showing no interest in importing Indian stones at high rate,” he said, adding that they are importing Bhutanese stones at reasonable rate. “If the price does not return to normal, importers will not import Indian stones,” he said.

“Our income has decreased 70 percent as no Indian stones are being imported since September 3. We are dependent on loading and unloading stones for our livelihood,” said Mazidul Islam, 42, a loading and unloading labourer at Burimari Land Port.

“Before September 3, we used to earn Tk 450 to Tk 500 every day, but now it is Tk 100 to Tk 150 for unloading stones from Bhutan,” said labourer Rezaul Karim, 38. “As we have no work on our hands, we pass our time sleeping in the labourers' shed,” he said.

Labourer Manju Alam, 42, said if this situation continues, their livelihood will be under threat. “We have no alternative option to earn our living,” he added.

Safar Uddin, president of Burimari Land Port unit of Bangladesh Sangjukta Sramik Federation, said 15,000 labourers are dependent on loading and unloading imported stones from India and Bhutan. “The stopping of import of Indian stones is having a bad impact on our livelihood,” he said.